A number of Valparaiso track and field athletes represented the Crusaders Friday and Saturday at the Meyo Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind, led by freshman Julian Smith (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) moving into second on Valpo’s all-time chart in the 60m dash.

Smith, who has proven to be one of the Crusaders’ best all-time sprinters early on in his rookie season, broke seven seconds in the 60m dash for the first time at Valpo, crossing the line in 6.97 seconds, good for 17th place.  Smith now trails just Elliot Powell’s 2005 mark of 6.94 seconds on Valpo’s all-time chart.  The freshman also placed eighth out of 34 runners in the unseeded section of the 200m dash, finishing the race in 22.31 seconds.

Senior Jarrett Mickens (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) continued his stellar season in the jumps, registering two more top-ten finishes.  The senior leapt 47’7” in the triple jump, good for seventh place, and posted a mark of 23’0 ½” in the long jump to place tenth.

Valpo also had a pair of throwers competing as well this weekend.  On the men’s side, junior Bill Rixon (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) set a new career best in the weight throw, tossing the implement 47’11 3/4”.  On the women’s side of the slate, freshman Sarah Drozdowski (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) represented the Crusaders in the weight throw with a toss of 47’0 ¼”.

Valparaiso returns to action next weekend at the GVSU Big Meet in Allendale, Mich.  The two-day meet begins Friday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. CST.